Adam Estes’ family’s plans to travel from Seattle, Washington, to New Zealand for Christmas were not problematic for the first fourteen hours, but with less than an hour to go, they were informed that a dust storm had closed the Sydney airport. They landed in Brisbane, Australia, where passengers were held for hours on the plane and in the terminal. They finally made it to Sydney, then attempted to get a flight to New Zealand. Bumped on five flights, they eventually arrived in New Zealand early the next day, their luggage following four days later. It was the stuff of Christmas horror stories.
You may have a Christmas travel story of your own, but our Christmas travel challenges are nothing compared to those faced by a young Galilean couple over two thousand years ago.
Living With Mary and Joseph
Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, encountered many challenges at Christmas.
Travel. Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem when Caesar Augustus declared a census throughout the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1) because Bethlehem was the birthplace of Joseph’s forefather, David (Luke 2:4). God, through the prophet Micah, had predicted that from Bethlehem “shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). That meant that God used a decree from a political ruler to put them in David’s city at exactly the right time. Whether they knew about the prophecy or not, they didn’t resist the providential hand of God in their lives, even when it meant making a difficult trip. They trusted God was in control.
Logistics. With the circuitous route Mary and Joseph probably took, the trip would have been around one hundred miles, roughly two weeks’ round trip on foot and by donkey. We don’t know where they slept, if they traveled by day or by night, or where they obtained food and replenished their water, but Joseph and Mary seemed to have a “God will supply” perspective. They seemed to know that “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)—a good word for us at Christmas as well.
People. The Bible doesn’t give us a lot of detail about Mary and Joseph’s interaction with friends and family, but Joseph knew that Mary’s pregnancy would result in serious disapproval. Christmas often throws all manner of people together at family, community, and workplace gatherings. We find that not all people view Christmas through a biblical lens. As in every other circumstance in life, our task is simply to represent Christ faithfully. As Mary and Joseph were blessed by God because of their faithfulness, so we will be as well as we celebrate the true reason for the season.
The Unexpected. When you make a journey expecting to sleep in a hotel and you end up in a stable…that’s the unexpected! But it provided a beautiful picture of God’s plan: The King of Glory entering our world in the humblest way imaginable. God used it as a timeless reminder of who Jesus was and how He came humbly to serve.
What lessons can we draw from Mary and Joseph’s extraordinary circumstances during that first Christmas season?
Learning From Mary and Joseph
Sadly, Christmas has become one of the most spiritually challenging seasons of the year. For the same reasons as Mary and Joseph—travel, logistics, people—we can find ourselves more stressed than ever. How can we stay spiritually focused regardless of what happens around us this Christmas?
Focus. Remember what—and Who—the purpose of Christmas really is. Christmas is about Jesus—the entrance into this world of the Son of God to save us from our sins. Despite challenging circumstances, we can still worship Him.
Sovereignty. “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Make the best Christmas plans you can—and leave room for God to change them if He has something better in store.
Provision. There’s a delicate balance between living within our means and trusting God to supply our needs. Don’t create post-Christmas stress by overspending or overindulging this Christmas. Mary and Joseph were humble, traveling and living accordingly—and God met their needs.
Love. Despite people and circumstances you may not have planned for, let the God who is love fill you with the Spirit of the season. In the end, that’s what matters most (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and the founder and host of Turning Point for God. For more information about Dr. Jeremiah or Turning Point, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.
